Benoni Defense

White gets the centre, Black gets the wing and the diagonal

Sharp play
Asymmetry

Black meets d4 with …c5 and, after d5, gives White the centre on purpose. In return Black gets a majority on the queenside and a g7 bishop that stares down the whole long diagonal. The positions are unbalanced: White has more room, Black has more counterplay. People pick it when they want to win with Black, not just to equalise.

Interactive Opening Board

7…Bg7

♚

Black

♔

White

7…Bg7

Speed:

Moves

(14 plies • 7 moves)

7…Bg7Tabiya

The bishop takes the long diagonal, from where it hits the centre and backs the pawn advance on the queenside.

1–7moves
#WhiteBlack
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1.d4 White occupies the centre with the queen's pawn.

1…Nf6 The knight develops and controls e4 and d5 at once, without committing the pawn structure.

2.c4 White grabs more space and aims at d5.

2…c5 The c5 pawn hits d4 and offers White a choice: exchange, advance or defend the pawn. This is where the Benoni begins.

3.d5 White pushes on and shuts down the knight's diagonal. The d4 square is now out of Black's reach.

3…e6 Black undermines the d5 pawn and wants to open the e-file.

4.Nc3 The knight guards the d5 pawn and prepares e4.

4…exd5 The exchange opens the e-file and removes Black's pawn from the centre. This is just what Black wanted.

5.cxd5 The d5 pawn stays in place, and the Benoni structure is set. White has the central space: pawns on d5 and e4 against a lone d6. Black has pawns on a, b and c against White's two on the queenside, and that is the main asset. The whole game runs on this script: White presses in the centre, Black breaks on the wing.

5…d6 The d6 pawn guards c5, frees the c8 bishop and controls e5.

6.e4 White completes the set-up: two central pawns, with e4-e5 in reserve.

6…g6 The g6 pawn prepares the bishop on g7, where it will press on the centre.

7.Nf3 The knight comes to f3 and defends e5 and d4.

7…Bg7 The bishop takes the long diagonal, from where it hits the centre and backs the pawn advance on the queenside.

Defining move

5.cxd5 — the Benoni pawn structure

The move that turns the position into a Benoni

White captures with the pawn, and the asymmetry the whole line aims at appears. White has the centre: d5 and e4. Black has the queenside majority: a, b, c against a, b. So White plays in the centre, Black on the wing, and both plans are sharp. A peaceful draw is rare here.

Tabiya

The Modern Benoni

White owns the centre; Black owns the queenside majority and the g7 bishop. White wants to wait for a good moment for e4-e5, or to develop calmly, castle and bring a knight to c4 to hit d6. Black plans to castle, set up the pieces and strike with …b5. Each side has a clear plan, and a slip in timing is punished fast.

The centre

An asymmetrical structure: the centre against the wing

White has pawns on d5 and e4 and only two on the queenside. Black has pawns on a7, b7, c5 and d6. The d6 square is weak, and White will lean on it. In return Black gets the g7 bishop and the chance to break on the wing.

Key squaresd6e5d4

Outposts

c4White's knight
A knight arriving on c4 via d2 hits the weak d6 pawn and b6. Black looks for a way to trade it.
e5A square for Black's knight
If White has put off e4-e5, a knight coming from d7 to e5 gets a fine post and hits the weak points in White's camp.

Thematic breaks

b5Black
The …b7-b5 break
Use the queenside majority and open lines against White's king.
What follows: If White has not played a4 in time, Black gets a passed pawn or a dangerous attack.
e5White
The e4-e5 advance
Break through at d6 and open lines on the kingside.
What follows: This is White's main trump. If it works, the d-pawn becomes a strong passed pawn and Black's position cracks.
c4Black
The …c5-c4 push
Open the diagonal for the g7 bishop and gain space.
What follows: Black wins a square, but the c4 pawn can become weak if it is not supported.

White’s plan

Prepare e4-e5 to get a strong passed pawn or open the kingside.
Develop, castle and bring a knight to c4 to press on d6.
Stop …b5 with a2-a4.

Black’s plan

Castle and keep the bishop on the g7 long diagonal.
Strike with …b5 and put the queenside majority in motion.
Occupy e5 with a knight and press on the e-file before White gets in e4-e5.

History

The word Benoni comes from Hebrew and means son of my sorrow. In the 1950s Soviet players revived the defence, and Mikhail Tal turned it into a fearsome weapon. Fischer played it in his 1972 match against Spassky.